Education, employment, and empowerment among Saudi women

ABSTRACT The Saudi 2030 vision states it is committed to empowering women through education and employment, but the literature scarcely addresses their everyday realities. This paper utilises a critical realist perspective to examine the mechanisms emerging from the interplay of structural and cultural factors that impact women’s empowerment concerning local realities in Saudi Arabia. Situated within a broader study, this research explores the qualitative element of women’s work and education experiences by analysing policy documents and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that structure and culture have a diverse impact on education and employment, which may ultimately lead to disempowerment.